CROSS PLAINS, Texas — One person was killed and another flown to the hospital after a fiery head-on crash in west Texas.
The drivers of a Ford F-150 and an Acura MDX collided about 7:20 a.m. on Hwy. 36., two miles east of Cross Plains.
According to the Department of Public Safety, the driver of the Acura crossed into the westbound lanes and crashed into the truck. Both vehicles the caught on fire.
People driving past the accident - along with Bobby Schroedter, who is temporarily staying at a home on Hwy 36 - tried to help the victims.
They called 911 and pulled the driver of the F-150 — Alexander Isbell, male, 28, of Coleman — out of his truck and away from the flames.
Schroedter said the Isbell's pants were on fire.
An air evac helicopter flew him to the hospital in Abilene.
Schroedter said he checked to see if the other driver — who was trapped in the wreckage — had a pulse, but couldn't find one.
"I don't think we could have gotten the door open, but once I felt that there was no pulse, I just didn't try to do anything else," Schroedter said.
Schroedter then grabbed jugs of water and attempted to douse the flames. He also got a fire extinguisher from the driver of a big rig caught in the traffic backup. But neither made a dent in the fire.
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The Cross Plains Volunteer Fire Department arrived and put out the flames.
The driver of the SUV — an Hispanic male — was pronounced dead at the scene scene by Callahan County Judge Burlie Taylor.
DPS has not released the man's name.
Heather Rose was on her way to work in Rising Star when she drove up on the wreck. Rose said she was running late this morning because her son did not want to get out of bed.
"Guardian angels were watching over me," Rose said.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the cause of the crash.
DPS has not released the names of the victims.
Hwy 36 was closed in both directions for more than three hours.
